^WHERE:  Granite Bay, CA

^{PLACE & TIME:} 

Robin (Du): 3rd, 1:45:07

^DISTANCE:

Duathlon: 4miR-13miB-4miR

ROBIN'S STORY

Granite Bay Du

Last time I did this race, 3 years ago, I was working towards qualifying for Kona.  This year, no big goals are really boosting the training but I still want to see how fast I can go and hope to place.

I ride 11 mi downhill to the start to get more mileage in.  As I arrive, I'm so happy to see our buddies Dave and Francie Campbell!  Dave has high hopes for me...we'll see!  I set up my transition area and see my wonderful family!  A super fast friend, Stephanie Artis, comes up and says hi. She's a great runner... I tell her that this race will definitely work to her advantage with the total of 8 miles running!  I also see our buddy, and studly ultrarunner, Lee McKinley.  The sprint version of the duathlon is already underway and Lee's wife, Sara, is in it and looking good!  Also, our good friend, Hal Tacker, is here!  It's gonna be a fun morning!

RUN #1

After a little warmup, I head to the race start.  I get in a quick stretch and then join Stephanie, Lee, Hal, and 90  others at the start.  Ready, set, go!  The pack jumps off the line and takes off!  Wow, everyone is pushing from the get-go!  Stephanie takes off and a girl in red shorts follows!  I look down at my pace and know it wouldn't be smart to try going with them.  I'm trying to hold about 7min pace like last weekend.  On the trails now and I'm reminded that this course is hilly and very steep in parts, unlike the flat Zoo Zoom.  I pass a 50-year-young woman that clearly doesn't look her age!  We hit a flat, paved parking area and I know I've got to use this to my advantage before the climbing!

Mile 1 is 7:04.  Now it's just me and a few guys.  My mind starts telling me, "it's okay to ease up... 3rd place is just fine.... there's no way to catch Steph."  I have to force those thoughts aside and keep pushing.  On the main trails now, the terrain starts to undulate...ouch! 

We're running across a sandy, rocky beach.  Funny how seeing people running slowly in front of you on the sand creates the illusion that you can catch them...ha!

Mile 2 is 7:51.  Now the trail gets seriously hard as we start the BIG climb.  I just look straight into the hill and keep going.  I'm starting to feel fatigued...crazy...didn't I just start this race?!  Now it's down the steep, sandy, slippery backside.  I wish I had the downhill skills of my running buddy, Courtney!  I put on the brakes and try to stay upright.  A reward awaits at the bottom... getting to run pretty flat to the next aid station.

Mile 3 8:52.  I really want to bike now!  I push the last mile and make a move on a few guys.  There's the fam!  I flash a smile and  give high fives to Anna and Ariel.

Mile 4 7:35.

BIKE

My transition goes pretty well.  As I turn out of the parking lot, our friend, Dave Campbell, directing traffic, tells me to go for it. 

Down the road I start to get into the groove.  Then I hit some bumps and hear something drop.  Was that my pump?  As I put my head down to look back, I see the face of my run Garmin (Forerunner) is gone!  No way.  I look back and see the face on the ground.  I can't leave it there.  I turn around and go back.  A young kid asks me if we made a wrong turn.  I tell him I dropped something.  Another guy says, "you're going the wrong way"...."I know, I dropped something".  I stop, pull off the band, pick up the face and stuff it all in my back pocket.  Troy will get a kick out of this!

As I get going again I look down and my bike Garmin 205 has switched off.  It's several years old so bumpy roads can do that to it.  I turn it back on and get focused ahead again.  This is my third time on the tri bike this season...the first was yesterday and the second this morning.  I'm definitely rusty on it especially on this technical course! 

I get to an out-and-back section and see Stephanie and the other girl heading back already!  Man, I'm never catching them!  And all these guys are just blowing by me!  What's the point!  And look, my Garmin went out again!  I know that this is not what Christ likes to hear )=

I finally make the turn and head back when I hear, "on your left" and that 50-years-young woman blows by.  Great, now I'm getting creamed!  At that moment I chuckle a bit at my silly attitude!  This is the Lord giving me motivation to keep pressing on and I'm being a big baby!  I make it my goal to keep her in my sight.  She's wearing a Velo Bella jersey and clearly a good cyclist!

I'm getting more into the grove and looking to the Lord.  I thank Him for loving me enough to continue helping me... even when I'm poor sport!  I see Dave as I finish the 1st loop, "Come on Robin!".

This loop I'm more focused and less cautious.  It's fun having someone to chase.  I see Lee heading back and soon Hal.  I'm staying with the Velo girl... closing in on the hills and falling back on the downhills.  After the out and back I make a move and pass her only to have her pass me back.  It's a fun challenge trying to stay within reach. 

The Velo girl and I finish into the parking lot.  I hear Dave say, "you have a 6 minute gap!".  Well, catching Steph and the other girl probably won't happen, but I have to always hope.

I make a good transition even with having to drop off my run Garmin.  I have to rely on my regular watch and the mile markers.  I miss my Garmin!  Heading out for lap 2, I stop to fix my shoes.  The Velo girl goes by but I catch up to her and tell her, "good riding", and then pass by. 

I can tell this is going to hurt!  I'm not moving as fast and feeling pretty wiped!  To top it off, I'm basically all alone out here...it's a tough challenge but I know that Jesus wants me to always keep trying and pushing.  I find myself focusing on results and a discouraging 3rd place..  I won the race 3 years ago and now look at me!  It's a struggle that comes back when I'm not 100% looking to Christ.  So I keep looking to Him and "press on" and forget what is behind or even ahead of me...

My mile splits are too fast for the pace I'm running.  The mile markers are a bit off.  On my way to the sandy beach, I hit a hill.  Hey, where did this come from?  I don't remember this. Ha, ha, the little hills are getting bigger!  I make it to the big hill and it seems huge.  No walking!  I keep trudging along and make it to the top.  It's a tough backside descent but I stay upright.

It's mostly flat now and I need to keep going.  At mile 3 I see Hal in the distance.  Can I catch him and the others he's with?  I close the gap but it's not enough...if only I had one more mile...well maybe not!  It's the home stretch and I see the fam.  Anna's ready to run with me.  I want Ariel to have a chance, too, so I carry her and run hand-in-hand with Anna.  Man, carrying Ariel is hard, but we all cross together!  Yeah!  Thanks God!   

Go Sarah!

Go Lee!

Go Stephanie!

Go Hal!

Still Works!

Fun in the Sun!

TROY'S STORY

Ice Breaker Tri

I ride my bike down the hill to Granite Bay.  It’s a beautiful day with just a mild morning chill. Granite Bay is a great race venue - surrounded by water, beach, roads, and trails.  The peaceful 11mi, 1000ft drop, gives me time to think of what’s been and soon to come..

Even though it’s a small race, it’s ever the challenge, and a special occasion for me.  Due to my foot, I’ve been racing triathlons as a relay, having Robin or a friend do the run for me.  This is my first 3-event race since 2008, with a foot that’s better and one less kidney.

I set up transition & am glad to see my family arrive (Robin, Anna & Ariel).  Anna’s on her bike.  Todd Allington (back from injury) & his wife, Elizabeth, are racing.  Todd’s set to qualify for Kona this season.  I keep an eye out for Stewart, owner of Auburn’s Gold Rush Subaru.  He’s a triathlete working up to a ˝ Ironman and also is giving us a great deal on a used car that we’re picking up after the race today (I finally sold my truck).

Down at the water there are many comments on how cold it is.  I see a friend, Ken, who has done over 300 triathlons.  He says, “It’s not as cold as the race I did yesterday in the San Francisco Bay”.  I put on my wetsuit and jump in for a warm-up.  After the 1st minute of “frozen-face” it’s gets better.  I get out and jog around to stay warm.  Anna’s in her swimsuit splashing around in the water! Kids!

The Swim (13:57)

I get a good run into the water.  I’m feeling good.  Around the first buoy I’m enjoying the clean water and clear space around me when I realize I better get to work and find a draft.  Up ahead to the right I see my target and sprint the best I can.  I make the connection and ease up while my heart continues pounding.  That hurt but being in the draft is an advantage that’s worth it.  ˝ way done I’m starting to feel the cold of the water and the fatigue.  I’m ready to switch to the bike.  Coming into the beach I do my best to sprint around my leading friend.  He surges as well and we both start running, finishing  together.  I find a little patch of grass and kick off my wetsuit for the ˝ mi run to transition.

The Bike (34:38)

It’s good to be on the bike!  Yesterday Robin raced the course and I previewed it on the bike.  The relentless turns and rollers make it tough.  But it’s exciting, too.  I take off with good speed on the beginning flat stretch when suddenly 2 guys from an earlier wave pass me on their 2nd loop.  One of them is a 14 year old kid!  I try to stay with him and the other guy for a couple miles.  They’re stronger but I try to capitalize on my strengths: technical corners and strategic passing.  But they’re also good at that, too.  They get away but there are plenty of competitors to try to stay in front of.  At the end of the 1st loop, Dave Campbell is officiating the U-turn and I know he’ll give me flack for getting passed by the kid.  So to distract him, I make a great U-turn-pass of the guy in front of me.  It works as I hear Dave say, “All right, did you see that pass!”  It boosts me but a few more miles and I’m really getting tired.  I can’t wait for the run… anything but this painful bike course any more..  Soon enough I’m done.  I thank God for keeping me safe.  I put my socks and shoes on for the run.

The Run (28:09)

It’s so great to be running without heel pain!  Although everything else is hurting, but that’s ok, gotta grunt it out.  Along the beach and then onto the twisting scenic trails.  A guy with a “Coast Guard Search and Rescue” shirt is in front as we head through sand.  I’m thinking he’s used to running in the sand.  He’s strong, running well and encouraging others.  Then he encourages me to pass and cheers me on, “that’s what I’m talking about!” even though the pass is slow and I’m breathing really hard.  But the encouragement really helps, especially from a competitor.  I appreciate every little bit.

Mile 1 is 7:04.  Wow, the same as my 10k last week.  Hard to believe.  Maybe the miles are a little short?  There’s lots of guys around me to try and keep up with.  We round a corner with a panoramic view of Folsom Lake below.  Running on single-track along a high ledge, it’s beautiful!  Then down through sand again.  I make a pass, using every rock  or hard place I can find to get traction.

Mile 2 is 6:48.  Now we turn to head back but first have to go over “the wall”.  Gasping for air I keep running up the steep trail.  I encourage a young guy who passes me.  Great!  At the top, catching my breath.  I follow the young guy down the tricky descent and compliment him on his good line.  “I grew up running here” he says.  I say, “It shows”, and focus on trying to stay with him.

Mile 3 is 7:07.  I grab water with 1 mile to go and make it a goal to pass him and another guy in front of me.  They’re stronger on the ups so I try making gaining on the twisting parts & drops.  Can’t do it.  Together we pop over the last bump with the finish line in view across the parking lot.  All-out I pass 1 guy but the other sprints ahead.  In my hard effort I can barely make out Anna way up ahead, already running towards the line while looking back for me.  We lock hands and she sprints as fast as she can to keep up and she does!  We finish together. Mile 4 is 7:10.  Thanks, God, for letting me race a triathlon again.  It was really fun.  Especially the first ˝ of each event.  The 2nd ˝ is always a test of perseverance.  It does a body good.  But all for the glory of Christ.

Go Todd!

More Fun!